Man caught carrying kitchen knife for protection appears in court

A man who carried a kitchen knife for protection has been warned he could be facing a custodial sentence.

Alan Watson, 23, was caught with the weapon – kept inside a home-made cardboard sheath – near his home in Lerwick’s Ladies Drive on Saturday. He told police he was carrying it because someone had threatened to burn down his house.

Watson was kept in custody until today when he appeared in the dock before Sheriff Graeme Napier. He admitted possessing the knife.

The court heard a custodial sentence was likely, as this was Watson’s second offence.

Calling for a social inquiry report, the sheriff deferred sentence until 25th January and released Watson on bail.